Busted!

To not post your acceptable round scores is, more or less criminal...

according to the USGA Rules of Handicapping. So, after a few warnings, you were busted by the handicap committee for not posting your scores. Now what? What's the sentence? Instead of condemning you to share a jail cell with Herbalife distributor and lonely heart, Benjamin Dover, the handicap committee will most likely impose a GHIN-calculated penalty score.

You must submit acceptable scores to show your peers reasonable evidence of your "demonstrated ability." Failing to post while competing for a trophy, a 25¢ skin, deciding who pays for drinks on the 19th hole, or just bragging rights is seen as giving yourself an unfair advantage.

There are several permitted reasons why a score does not need to be posted:

• the round is an unauthorized format of play, e.g., scramble.
• you are playing with no witness present. Dogs don't count.
• you are playing out-of-season. (Season schedule)

People often fail to post because they are unhappy with their scores. Those who don't post their bad scores should realize that their handicap index is calculated using only the best 8 out of 20 scores, and those disappointing rounds may never be a factor. 

Here are some additional examples I have heard from people who didn't post a score:

• I forgot.
• I was practicing using a new hand grip position. (Editor - It's best to practice when playing alone)
• I had too many beers.

And my favorite:

• I lost my pencil on 10 and didn't want to bother the others in the group.

Call the cops!! And then there are the real criminals of golf; the felons - sandbaggers - who also will intentionally fail to post their scores, but this time it's the good scores. These criminals want a higher handicap; which gives them more handicap strokes while competing for low-net tournament prizes.

The Whole-in-One monthly posting report acts as a peer review, allowing your peers to view the number of rounds and scores you've posted. If you frequently golf with the same foursome or men's group, it's a good way to spot any discrepancies in the number of rounds played. This can indicate that someone is playing with an unfair advantage due to undeserved handicap strokes. While this may not be an issue if you only play gross scores, it can make a substantial difference in tournaments with low-net prizes. It's essential that the awards go to those who have legitimately earned them.

The SGLHC policy explains the protocol if and when you get busted. TLDR? In short, the committee performs a periodic SGL tee sheet/GHIN posting comparison. Sometimes a peer (the one you continually beat) with concerns (suspicions) about your index asks the committee to investigate. Evidence is collected by the handicap committee and is presented to you. You have the right to plead your case. A judgment is made.

If you play an acceptable round, post it and you won't hear from the handicap committee. It's that simple. However, if you don't mind penalty scores or being Ben Dover's overnight cellie, don't post.

This month's winner of a sleeve of TaylorMade golf balls is Stephen Lear (Please track down golf pro Andrew Grove to claim your prize.)